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Gaining a Voice at the Table: Skills for Youth (What Teachers Can Do)

Gaining a Voice at the Table: Skills for Youth (What Teachers Can Do). 2006 Pennsylvania Community on Transition Conference Session 403 – 8:30am-10:30am . Patti Hackett, M.Ed. Bangor, ME. No-one said this is going to be easy. Success is to be measured not so much by the position

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Gaining a Voice at the Table: Skills for Youth (What Teachers Can Do)

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  1. Gaining a Voice at the Table: Skills for Youth (What Teachers Can Do) 2006 Pennsylvania Community on Transition Conference Session 403 – 8:30am-10:30am. Patti Hackett, M.Ed. Bangor, ME

  2. No-one said this is going to be easy Success is to be measured not so much by the position one has reached in life as by the obstacles which have been overcome while trying to succeed. Booker T. Washington

  3. Increasing Opportunities for Youth Involvement Changing Attitudes • ADMINISTRATION – Policies & Practices • STAFF – Automatic Inclusion • FAMILY – Changing Roles (Passing the Torch) • NATIONAL – Policy & Practices Youth have something to say – are we listening?

  4. Increasing Opportunities for Youth Involvement Learn by Doing! • SCHOOL – FERPA, IEPs, 504 plans • HEALTH – Daily Care, Treatment Plans • LIFE – Responsibilities in the family • LEADERSHIP – Policy & Practices Youth have something to say – are we listening?

  5. The “Invite” is the 2nd Step: Acquiring Skills is the 1st Step • Knowledge & Info • Communication with confidence • Negotiation & Compromise

  6. Gaining a Voice • Mentors – Peers/ Youth Leaders • Mentors – Adult Allies • Coach – Improving skills & knowledge • Allies (within the system)

  7. Gaining Confidence Problem Solving Memo • What is the issue? • What have you done to solve the problem? • What level of support is needed? • Your idea to solve the problem

  8. Learning to See Other Viewpoints • Art of Negotiation • Anger into Action • Staying Cool (relaxation exercises & power words – vex) • What’s in it for “them”? • Going for the “win-win”

  9. What would you do if you thought you could not fail?

  10. “No” is not because of YOU • "No" response - limited vision, or negative past experience. • "No" is just the 1st answer - get more info or justification why they should say yes- • Who has the authority to say YES.

  11. Timing means everything • People tend to say yes when they can have time to process the facts and contribute to the solution. • Not too many people enjoy being told what to do, especially when its their job.

  12. Seasons for YES (approval) FUNDING  requires approval, find out when the budget year starts. • 1st quarter more likely to say yes • 2nd quarter - guard their money • 3rd quarter -project spent down in • 4th quarter - spent down or give back

  13. Be Personal • Treat others like you want to be treated. Be sincere • Call people by name, try to remember something about them and bring it into the conversation. • No matter how tough the situation is try not to take or make it personal.

  14. Find Something Positive to Say • At the meeting agree about something (weather, room temp, baseball, etc.) • Follow-up with a short positive note. May need to reconsider and sell idea a different way, or figure an option for comprise. • Closing tone - thank-you for time, expertise, willingness to consider, etc.

  15. Need to Regroup • Situation more like war - send in another messenger. • Sometimes it’s just bad chemistry • Identify from your group or who on the inside can keep the conversation going. • Remember it’s not about YOU, its about resolving the problem

  16. Being Honest • Ok, sometimes in the heat of the problem, things are said or done that should not have been. • As soon as your ego allows, face the issue and apologize. • You will have more respect for yourself and others will too.

  17. Up the Ladder to the Key Decision Maker • Are you talking to a person who has the authority to say yes? • If and when you need a new direction for the conversation, ask for the boss. • The "front" person is doing what is instructed – find who has the power to change the “no” to a “yes”.

  18. Reassess • You have tried everything - getting dead-ends (you reached out to those you know, sent emails to outside your circle, have researched the issue and solution via the internet) • Look at the situation again. • The original idea did not work out - the next idea maybe the winner.

  19. Surround Yourself with Positive People • Being a “Change Agent” takes time and energy. • Feelings may be bruised, and hearing “no” gets discouraging. • Creative thinkers help with other options -- encourage the dialogue until the problem is resolved

  20. Leadership Level • Presentations (community, state, national) • Policy Level (community, state, national) • Compensation

  21. This bottle of Natural Spring Water is provided as a service for our guest. If consumed, $5.25 will be billed to your room.

  22. Patti Hackett, MEdpattihackett@hrtw.orgpattihackett@yahoo.com

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